Maybe it starts like this: you hear a few odd sounds in the night from your furnace room. Maybe it ends like this: you’re rudely jolted to life by a shockingly cold shower the following morning. You begin to question the stability of your hot water heater and don’t really know how to determine what it’s longevity may be. Before you pick up the phone and call the handyman, and before you venture to take one more freezing shower, you may want to review the tips below that can clue you in to the symptoms you need to be watching for.
Step 1: Think back to recent water usage. If the temperature of your last shower was less than ideal, you’ve already run into the very first symptom of a water heater issue.
Step 2: Check the duration of your hot water. Maybe you’re still getting some hot water, but just not as much as you used to enjoy. If the lasting power of your hot water seems to be shortening, it’s time to evaluate the issues with your water tank.
Step 3: Check for leaks. Typically you’ll notice leaks associated with your hot water tank. If there is standing water in places you typically haven’t seen before — and those places just happen to be near your water heater — you might be in trouble.
Step 4: Tune in. Listen to your hot water heater. Are you picking up on random and fairly frequent clanging noises, pops, or other unusual sounds? Unfortunately, that’s not a good sign.
Step 5: Date the tank. No, we’re not suggesting you wine and dine the tank for good measure, but it is a good idea to keep running track of the tanks age. Typically, hot water heater tanks are warrantied for 5-10 years, but can last much longer than that. If you’re not sure how old your tank is, call in a professional to take a look.
If you’re following these steps and you’re still uncertain if your hot water heater should be a concern, call in a handyman to take a closer look. A quick evaluation could save you some headache, heartache, and expensive repairs in the future.